On Saturday, March 12th, the WWE Network presents the latest live special. Roadblock, which is scheduled to last three hours, will be the most hyped WWE Network exclusive event the service has presented thus far. So hyped in fact, many consider it another major event in line with a Fastlane or a Payback. So what are the matches? Who do we think wins them? Read on and find out!
NXT Tag Team Championship
The Revival (Dash and Dawson) vs. Enzo Amore and Big Cass (with Carmella)
Brock: Seeing as I’m taking Jon Potter’s usual role in the preview article I plan on continuing the predictions winning streak over Steve. I even made a shirt for the occasion. Okay, so I didn’t make a shirt, but I’ll do my best to keep the streak going. I’d better keep it going, Potter doesn’t like to lose…. Gulp…
This is the match, as a fan, that I’m most looking forward to. NXT Tag Team title matches rarely disappoint, and with this being the highest profile NXT match on a WWE card, a test for WrestleMania to be sure, I expect an old-school psychological clinic of a match. While I’m a fan of both teams, especially The Revival, who remind me of Arn & Ole Anderson, I just don’t see a title change happening. I expect a great to classic match from both teams, but I see The Revival hanging on to the straps in classic heel fashion. In truth, I want to see a Revival victory because I happen to think a Revival/American Alpha match could be one of the all-time great Tag Team Championship matches ever.
Prediction: The Revival retain
Steve: This should be fun. I like that WWE is again having a NXT match on these WWE Network specials as it really felt special for Beast in the East. Unfortunately for Enzo and Cass, I don’t see them having the same luck Finn had. Instead, much like Brock, I see Revival taking on American Alpha at NXT Takeover: Dallas.
With that being said, I really think this will be fun and I am interested in seeing how the crowd reacts to both teams. The Revival don’t feel like a team that would be over with a WWE crowd while Enzo and Cass are big enough stars where I think they could still get a great reaction. Regardless, I enjoy both teams and I’m looking forward to this one.
Prediction: The Revival retain
WWE Tag Team Championship
League of Nation (Sheamus and King Barrett) vs. New Day (Kofi Kingston and Big E with Xavier Woods)
Brock: Though this was just thrown together on TV, it should be another solid match. With King Barrett on his way out of the WWE and the New Day only getting hotter, I see the New Day hanging on to the titles here while taking the necessary steps towards a face turn. I happen to really like the New Day and I happen to think they’ve breathed new life into the tag team division that not only made the division relevant again but reestablished the WWE Tag Team titles as important titles again in WWE. Taking the straps off of these dancin’ fools on a Network special simply doesn’t make sense to me.
Prediction: New Day retains
Steve: I’m looking forward to this. I could see a scenario where Barrett and Sheamus actually do win the tag titles so babyface New Day could give them the chase, and part of me is tempted to change my original prediction just to be different, but I just can’t do it. I’m sticking with New Day picking up the win.
How will the match be? Potentially awesome. WWE have killer tag and six man tag matches and have done so pretty much since the Shield debuted onward. As a result, I have a lot of hope here. The drawbacks are Barrett’s injuries and Sheamus’ injuries potentially making them less than ready for a killer match. But if they can go like they normally can, this could be a lot of fun.
Prediction: New Day retains
Brock Lesnar (with Paul Heyman) vs. Bray Wyatt (with The Wyatt Family)
Brock: I’m not sure how I feel about this one. Part of me wants to see an old school event-contained storyline that sees Ambrose cost Lesnar this match only for Lesnar to return later in the night to take out Ambrose. It’s hard for me to believe that a feud as personal as Lesnar/Ambrose would allow for these matches to go on without either man interfering in the others match. Every time these two are in the same arena they come to blows. What better way to rile up “The Beast Incarnate” than by costing Lesnar this match? And judging by the end of RAW, when Bray Wyatt and Triple H stared a hole through one another, Wyatt’s days as a heel are numbered. A win over Lesnar would be huge for Wyatt at this point and make Lesnar look vulnerable going into WrestleMania. Having said all that, I simply can’t see Lesnar losing this match. Not with WrestleMania less than a month away. So while I’m picking Lesnar to win, I would not be surprised if Wyatt walks out the victor.
Prediction: Brock Lesnar
Steve: I would be shocked if Bray won. I love Bray, but WWE are just so… odd with how they book him. Lazy booking has really damaged him and while I think they could fix it, I don’t trust them to actually do so. Bray is someone who may really benefit from a brand extension so he’d be less lost in the shuffle.
Anyway, while I am excited to see these two go at it, I’m kind of disappointed with this idea. I wanted Brock Lesnar vs. Bray Wyatt as a major match where at least I could buy into a Bray win. But with Bray seemingly directionless going into ‘Mania and with Brock potentially going into a WWE title match (more on that soon), I just don’t see it. Brock wins clean.
Prediction: Brock Lesnar
WWE Championship
Triple H vs. Dean Ambrose
Brock: Storyline aside I expect this to be a fantastic match. Could Bray Wyatt, after losing to Lesnar, cement his babyface turn by costing Triple H the WWE World Heavyweight Championship? Absolutely. In fact the stare-down on RAW makes me think this is a very real possibility, but I doubt it will happen. I can see Lesnar costing Ambrose this match if for nothing more than building sympathy for Ambrose more than I can see Wyatt costing Triple H the title. Beyond that, why would WWE build a Reigns/Triple H angle for the last three or so months and not pull the trigger at WrestleMania? And let’s not forget that Ambrose/Lesnar has already been set for WrestleMania. An Ambrose win would send WrestleMania 32, an event already “struggling” to sellout, into complete creative chaos. So while the storyline all but guarantees a Triple H win, I can see these two defying the expected and producing a memorable match.
Prediction: Triple H retains
Steve: I could certainly see the Bray costing Triple H the title idea that Brock suggested, and in many ways I’d love it, but I don’t see it happening. If Ambrose wins, I think the big two matches will keep going. Triple H vs. Roman Reigns will still happen, with Roman delaying his WWE title match to get his hands on Triple H after what Trips did to him. Meanwhile, Ambrose has to walk into Wrestlemania against the Beast.
Will it happen? I can’t say it will for sure. But I like to take risks and sometimes I like to predict what I’d prefer to happen and in this case I firmly believe putting the title and main event focus on Ambrose/Lesnar is the way to go. Dean Ambrose is THE guy. The fans want it. He wants it. Pull the trigger. You can’t put lightning back in the bottle and somehow Ambrose still has some left, but if you hold off too long eventually the fans will lose faith. Use the lightning in the bottle, make Ambrose your guy.
Prediction: Dean Ambrose
Closing Thoughts
Brock: I’m not one who usually gets excited about events with only a few announced matches, but I’m getting more excited for Roadblock by the day. Unlike other WWE events I expect this show to be a wrestling fans show. With the likelihood of titles changing hands low the matches need to be good wrestling matches to keep the fans interested and entertained. Since we know so little about the event I expect, of the announced matches, that the Ambrose/Triple H match and the NXT Tag Team title matches to be the matches of the night. I also look forward to celebrating another devastating, crushing, spectacular (narrow) predictions victory over Steve. I hope, at least. I don’t like Potter when he’s angry…
Steve: I am excited to finally crush Jon Potter in predictions! Wait, what? Brock? Why are you here?! Jon is dodging me!
Seriously though, I took a risk once again but I’m waiting for the day it pays off. It’ll be a shame if I beat Brock though, it won’t taste quite as sweet as crushing Jon. But it is what it is. This show looks like a lot of fun and WWE could really shake things up by making the WWE title change hands. Will they do it? Probably not, but I am pulling for it. I think it is the right move in so many different ways. It is good for the Network and for these specials, it is good for Wrestlemania, it is good for the crowd, and you will finally have a chance to capture that Dean Ambrose lightning in a bottle once and for all. I’m excited for this show. Also, I’m excited to give a big welcome to Brock to WWE Network News! I’ve been waiting for you to visit.
As always, stick to WWE Network News as we will be reviewing this event and be sure to bookmark us so you can check out the latest WWE Network news, rumors, reviews, and more!